Expertise and Current Research Activity

Castle has performed with the following conductors: James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, Raymond Leppard, James Conlon, David Zinman, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Christian Thielemann, Julius Rudel, and Edo de Waart. With Leonard Bernstein at the piano, she sang the first performance of his work "Arias and Barcarolles."

Castle has been closely associated with other composers. She sang the premiere of Strawberry Fields by Michael Torke at Glimmerglass Opera (her performance was seen on PBS Great Performances Series), Dream of Valentino by Dominick Argento at the Kennedy Center, Where's Dick by Stewart Wallace at Houston Grand Opera and Esther by Hugo Weisgall at New York City Opera.

Her discography includes: Menotti's The Medium, Menotti's The Consul, Bernstein's Grammy-winning recording Candide, Michael Torke's Strawberry Fields, Vocal works of Joseph Fennimore, Vocal works of Stephan Wolpe, and Sondheim, and Jake Heggie's Flesh and Stone which features "Statuesque," song cycle written for Miss Castle and commissioned by the University of Kansas.

Education

Master of Music, Music Literature and Performance, Eastman School of Music, Performer's Certificate

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Voice and Theater, University of Kansas

Teaching

I am hired to teach private voice. I also teach a performance class in the Fall semesters

Teaching Interests

Vocal Performance

Private voice

Research

In 2010 I celebrated my 40th year in the world of professional singing. I have sung all my life. My career has taken me to opera houses and concert halls here in the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Brazil. I sang 25 seasons at New York City Opera and 14 seasons at the Metropolitan Opera. My repertoire includes nearly 140 roles. I have sung premiere performances of many song cycles and operas by such renowned composers as:

Leonard Bernstein, Dominick Argento, Jake Heggie, William Bolcom... Among the many conductors I have sung with are James Levine, Seiji Ozawa, James Conlon,, David Zinman, Michael Tilson-Thomas,, Kristian Thielemann, Julius Rudel and Edo de Waart. Among my many recordings just released is "The Hawthorn Tree" written for me by William

Bolcom. I received a Grammy for the recording of CANDIDE by Leonard Bernstein. Jake Heggie's cycle of "Statuesque" was commissioned by KU and recorded by Americus Records.

Research Interests

14 seasons as Principal Artist, Metropolitan Opera

25 seasons as Principal Artist- over 160 performances of 21 roles, New York City Opera

Leading Roles. Worldwide Performances with Major Orchestras, Renowned Conductors

Candide, Grammy winning recording

Service

I am committed to the power of music, to singing and to "celebrating" in the training of young singers here at the University of Kansas where I received my BFA in Theater and Voice.